imprisoned lifepath

[ronnieB]

i was in the middle of creating some characters for posting (the only free time i had in weeks) and noticed there is no lifepath for jailed characters, only enslaved ones. here's my idea:

------------time--trait--res-----stat---------leads--------------------------------skill
Prisoner___8____2___6__-1m/-1p__outcast, soldier, city dweller____2: brawling, *i didn't see anything

opinions are wellcome

[Drozdal]

Here are some of mine thoughts:

Ok assuming that law system is quite harsh 8 years should be ok :P
I think that 6 rp's are way too generous, it should be fine if you would be imprisioned in modern world, but in fantasy/medieval one 2-3 should be max (clothes + shoes) :)
Leads: Soldier? Might be but i would aim for mercenary or something similar to that, i do not think that any commander would be pleased with those who did-their-time in his/her company (especially on night watch :P). You should add also more leads to villager/peasant settings.

Skills: maybe consider adding: falsehood, skulking :), inconspicous, and of course *i'm innocent/i didin't do it

Dro

[ronnieB]

Ok assuming that law system is quite harsh 8 years should be ok :P

the law system i'm using is very harsh (on those who can't bribe their way)


I think that 6 rp's are way too generous, it should be fine if you would be imprisioned in modern world, but in fantasy/medieval one 2-3 should be max (clothes + shoes) :)
i meant these points to be used mostly for contacts "you meet a lot of interesting men inside and, if they don't kill you, you can even make some friends" -rat


Leads: Soldier? Might be but i would aim for mercenary or something similar to that, i do not think that any commander would be pleased with those who did-their-time in his/her company (especially on night watch :P).

me thinks that on the battlefield every sword is wellcome


Skills: maybe consider adding: falsehood, skulking :), inconspicous, and of course *i'm innocent/i didin't do it

the innocent one is right out, i fear- you are locked in jail, if a sadistic guard desides that you are guilty of somthing, you get punished.
the "I didn't see anything" trait is much more fitting.

[Angaros]

I've always considered jail-sentences to be non-existant in medieval worlds. The prime reason being that prisoners in jail cost money, something which the system isn't too keen about. Fines and physical punishments was what criminals were subjected to. Payments in kind and the loss of a hand or 15 lashes perhaps. Jailing would've been used as a method of storing a suspect between his capture and court, and between court and execution of punishment. Perhaps in a more late medieval setting, imprisonment would become more fashionable as a punishment. All of this is strictly IMHO -- I don't know much about prison history but from what I've read about medieval law (not much really) there seems to have been no prisons or imprisonment punishments.

[ronnieB]

mmm.. very interesting angarus, i did not know that
of course every GM can build his campaign the way he sees fit, so my work was not in vain (i hope)

[Drozdal]

Drozdal wrote:

Skills: maybe consider adding: falsehood, skulking , inconspicous, and of course *i'm innocent/i didin't do it


the innocent one is right out, i fear- you are locked in jail, if a sadistic guard desides that you are guilty of somthing, you get punished.
the "I didn't see anything" trait is much more fitting.

That one was a little in-joke coz i saw documentary bout a prisoners once and they all said that they are innocent (ok 2 of them were not - but they weren't criminals) and i like that belief in imprisioned character (or even in every rougeish one :P)

[eruditus]

That one was a little in-joke coz i saw documentary bout a prisoners once and they all said that they are innocent (ok 2 of them were not - but they weren't criminals) and i like that belief in imprisioned character (or even in every rougeish one :P)

This is a common theme. I can't think of a jail oriented movie where they do not make a comment on "everybodie's innocent." Not that movies are reality but this is largley based on the current judicial system where ex-cons are nabbed for crimes by making deals with other cons.

On the other hand, in a system where a benefactor could get you out based on pity some might hear this as well as they walk through the dungeons.

I agree, though, that although I love the idea of the prisoner, it would be on a year by year basis, give you some horrible disease or maim you, you gain NO resources (most medieval prisons you met no one) but the hand that gave you your slop. As mentioned, capital punishment and enslavement would be more common, I would think.

[ronnieB]

I agree, though, that although I love the idea of the prisoner, it would be on a year by year basis, give you some horrible disease or maim you, you gain NO resources (most medieval prisons you met no one) but the hand that gave you your slop. As mentioned, capital punishment and enslavement would be more common, I would think.

ok i admit, i created that lifepath for my campaign which is more renesance-like then medieval (and alternate renesace at that).
i only hope thet it might inspire others to build their own rules, we need more of those

[luke]

All hail RonnieB the Relentless Poster!

I thought I'd chime in with my tiny bit of prison knowledge...

"Prison" in the days of feudal kingdoms, lords, tenants and what-not was simply called the oubliette. If I am not mistaken, oublier means "to forget" in French. Offenders were thrown in a small cell underneath the gate house and left to be forgotten. Prisoners often wasted away and starved to death. Oubliettes were cold, damp and lightless. Any food given was done so out of charity rather than obligation to the prisoner or legal system.

Prison in the days of the state -- prison as an institution -- was an equally horrible affair of different proportions. In Europe, it was called gaol. Offenders were packed into and locked inside of a structure and left to fend for themselves. They were not fed by the state, the gaolee had to provide their own food and clothing. Without money or charity, prisoners simply died.

Gaols were anything from remote fortresses to massive ships called, "hulks."

Sickness, malnutrition, despair and depression plagued the denizens of medieval (and renaissance) prisons. Any friendships made on the inside were probably shortlived -- one or the other of the friends was soon to die.

In times of war, criminals were often given choice: serve in the army/navy or be sent to gaol.

Prisons, even without feeding and clothing the prisoners, are expensive enterprises. Societies that could not afford such a burden, often simply imposed fines and/or immediate corporal punishments -- from loss of a hand, being locked in stocks or execution.

any body else got any goods on prisons? this is from my recent research on the 19th century europe, 19th century navies and my book about medieval english castles!

-L